Nancy Pelosi’s readiness to blame the Bush Administration, the “all-purpose political punching bag” of liberal imagination, for her own imperfections, indicates that President Obama has yet broken the “pattern in Washington where everybody is always looking for somebody else to blame.”
If the President truly wishes to change the tone in our nation’s capital, he’s going to have to do two things, first, refrain from blaming his predecessor for the nation’s problems (and otherwise fault Republican motives) and second, dare to take his own party and other critics of Republicans to task for casting such blame as well as leveling vicious personal attacks (questioning their motives and maligning them personally).
To that end, he should insist that all focus their criticisms on particular policies, understanding that people with various political philosophies will offer different solutions to our nation’s problems. He would truly change their tone by expressing respect for their motives, asserting that they put forward their proposals with the best of intentions.
He could have taken a step in that direction had he criticized Wanda Sykes for wishing death on Rush Limbaugh at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner last week. He had a golden opportunity then, just as he had during his inauguration when guests booed the outgoing President of the United States, to live up to the rhetoric of his campaign by challenging those whose very rhetoric undermines that of his campaign.
Barack Obama won last fall’s campaign in large part because he put forward an image of a level-headed man who could unite the nation. His friendship in the Senate with Tom Coburn, one of its most conservative members, was testament to his ability to bridge the partisan divide. Unfortunately, despite a few token gestures to Republicans in Congress, he has done little to acknowledge the sincerity of (most) conservative criticism of his policies and to fault the continued mean-spirited record of (some of) his supporters and their partisan allies.
His image during the primaries moved even a Republican like myself. Now, as president, he needs to burnish that image and reinforce it through rhetoric and actions. His decision to tap Utah’s Republican Governor as Ambassador to China is a step in the right direction. Now he needs back up that action with strong, unifying rhetoric.
He could take his cue from the language similar to that of such liberal icons as Hubert Humphrey and Bobby Kennedy–promoting liberal ideas without maligning conservative individuals.
He thinks that inviting Republicans to dinner parties is all that’s needed to “change the tone”.
He won’t incorporate their ideas into legislation, calls them “obstructionists”, he blames the previous administration for all of his woes, he goes after private citizens who disagree with him… then he brags about how post-partisan he is because a couple of Republicans got to watch the Super Bowl with him.
Jon Huntsman was a potentially strong GOP leader to challenge him 2012 and to be a vocal critic in the meantime. Just like throwing Hillary the bone of Secretary of State he has removed a critic if (hopefully when) his policies start to go sour.
Vocal critic? On what? Didn’t he make a point of urging the Utah legislature to accept the stimulus money? He seems to diverge with Obama on health care, but I wouldn’t call him a “vocal critic.” He’s been far more critical of the DC Republican insiders, going so far as to dismiss them as irrelevant (which, frankly, they are).
I don’t think Governor Huntsman (who is one of the few Republican leaders I actually respect) was ever going to be that critical of President Obama. And frankly, I think his advisers saw the writing on the wall for his chances in the 2012 primary (no doubt Mitt Romney’s defeat influenced their thinking; like Romney, Huntsman believes Jesus and Satan were brothers, which will remain a touchy subject in the Iowa primaries, along with his support for equal rights for gays and lesbians).
President Obama’s gain is the country’s loss. That would have been a substantive, meaningul campaign. Much better than watching Governor Huckabee defend his objection to “act of God” insurance terminology in an effort not to offend the Creator’s sensibilities while upholding tornado relief legislation, which is probably the campaign we’ll be treated to.
That such nonsense is tolerated within the “GOP” should tell you why you’ve become the minority party.
Man, the whining around here is reaching fever pitch. I don’t know how you’re going to keep up the bitchiness for another three and a half years, but I’m sure you’ll find a way.
Levi: January 1993-January 2001. Three and a half years is nothing. Also, they were able to demonize the left for that entire period and well into Bush’s second term. Not a blink. Particularly depressing for this blog, given the scraps tossed to gay Republicans by Republican candidates for president over the last seventeen years.
Yet somehow the “left” is to blame for all of the country’s ills. No responsibility, personal or otherwise, ever attaches to the right wing. This despite the fact that they’ll loudly proclaim on air that America is a “center right” country, evidence via elections be damned.
I think this is what one means when one describes “faith based” politics. The faith in the evidence of that which is unseen, undiscoverable and generally absent.
After reading this diatribe ” if the President wants to change the tone of this nation,” i wonder if you and your followers are suffering from amnesia, a form of alzheimers or suffering from the effects of your current favorite “rotgut” served at your favorite “cliquey” gay bar! The Republican Party began its decline around the time of the First World War. Nowadays your party ignores Abraham Lincoln and Dwight Eisenhower as ever being members of the GOP! Actually i feel Obama has been TOO nice to U guys! He should have ignored you, ( like you people have done to the rest of us americans while controlling the government the past umpteen years, by rammung your fringe ethics down our throats! Why don’t you and Rush Limbaugh move to the Republic of Texas with Rick Perry and relive the “glories of the confederacy” which you think is the “real” america.
That such nonsense is tolerated within the “GOP” should tell you why you’ve become the minority party.
Ah yes, the antireligious bigots like Alec mock and make fun of politicians who say that they should do “God’s will” and that they’re doing “the Lord’s work”.
Oops.
And as for “scraps”, I find it amusing that Alec and his fellow lefties are so quick to support the administration that gave us DADT and DOMA. One would think that, as good gay-sex liberals who scream that anyone who supports either is a vicious and violent homophobe, they would be joining in such “demonizing”.
That is, if you believed that gay-sex liberals like Alec actually had any principles other than subservience to the Obama Party.
Ndallas:
Goody! I’ve been waiting for a response from you!
I find it amusing that Alec and his fellow lefties are so quick to support the administration that gave us DADT and DOMA.
If you mean Clinton, the Southern Democrats who pushed DADT are gone, and DOMA was a bipartisan piece of bigotry. I happily supported Senator Kerry in 2004, one of 14 senators who had the courage to call it what it was…gay bashing on the senate floor. Clinton’s signature was immaterial in both cases, although he was properly criticized for campaigning on DOMA.
That’s all over a decade ago, btw. You need new material. Speaking of old material…
You’re either a liar or ignorant. You kept peddling that story of the transit authority out of Massachusetts, claiming there was a quota policy for the transgendered:
The agency denies there is any such policy. Care to retract? http://www.masstpc.org/?p=405
“Due to an inaccurate ABC News report, the MBTA has received numerous inquiries about the procedures under which trolley operator Aiden Quinn was hired. Contrary to the ABC News report, Quinn did not make any claims that would afford him special status. Like everyone else who seeks employment as a trolley operator at the MBTA, Quinn entered the job lottery (2004). His number came up in 2007, and he was hired that summer. There was nothing unusual or out of the ordinary about his hiring.”
Any thoughts?
I happily supported Senator Kerry in 2004, one of 14 senators who had the courage to call it what it was…gay bashing on the senate floor.
And again, Alec, you illustrate what makes a gay-sex liberal; you point to Kerry’s speeches and ignore how they were totally contradicted by his actions.
Sen. John Kerry said in an interview published yesterday that he would have voted for the gay-marriage ban passed overwhelmingly this week by Missouri voters.
The Democratic presidential nominee, who spent parts of two days stumping across the state, told The Kansas City Star the ballot measure was the same as one his home state of Massachusetts passed a few years ago. Kerry supported that measure.
But of course, you and yours call that “pro-gay” and “gay-supportive”.
You’re either a liar or ignorant. You kept peddling that story of the transit authority out of Massachusetts, claiming there was a quota policy for the transgendered:
(shrug) If you want to call the person in question “a liar or ignorant”, be my guest.
Quinn, who was hired as a minority because of his transgendered “female-to-male” status, was born Georgia Quinn and boasts on an Internet networking site that he was one of the first transgender hires by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, sources said.
The trolley driver lists his sexual orientation as “FTM” and was hired as a minority using his transgender status, two sources told ABC News.
The problem here, Alec, is that you’re so desperate to protect your fellow incompetent faggot that you’re actually trying to make excuses for and buy the propaganda of the very organization that has the most to hide in this case, given that they hired a clearly-unqualified individual based on their minority status.
Think about what you’re supporting. Look beyond sexual orientation and this brainwashed need you have to defend incompetent gays and stupid Obama Party policies.
Or can you?
NDallas:
Senator Kerry actually retracted his support for that amendment; at the time, he believed it allowed (or perhaps endorsed) civil unions. Regardless, it doesn’t change his stance on DOMA, and nothing you write here will change how he voted on that measure. I don’t expect my politicians to be perfect, but I have no doubt in my mind that Senator Kerry would have been the most pro-gay president we’ve ever had if he had been elected in 2004. But why dwell on the past when we have the future ahead of us, including your failure to address anything DOMA or DADT related. Nevertheless, you did take some time out to refer to someone as a “faggot,” in fact, my “fellow incompetent faggot.” I agree that the Massachusetts authority has ever reason to deny such a policy for PR purposes (but, according to you, they’d merely be compliant with the law, if the state antidiscrimination statute does what you claim it does), but then, why aren’t the sources named? Why is no such policy cited? Why is no documentation provided? The absence of any documentation weighs against you.
You lose, yet again. But it was a valiant effort.
Ndallas:
Although you frame this as an example of sexual orientation antidiscrimination legislation run amok, your own source contradicts that baseless assumption:
http://abcnews.go.com/US/Story?id=7561561&page=2
Or were all nine of them “faggots,” as you say? Not that I expect you to name sources….you’re not likely to do that, as it turns out…
And again, Alec, you try your usual tactics of diversion.
The question is not what Quinn was doing at the time of the accident; it’s why a clearly-incompetent individual like himself, who had numerous moving violations, was even hired or allowed to operate such a vehicle in the first place. The answer, as the individual bragged, is because of preferential treatment based on sexual orientation — which, according to your previous statement, should be illegal under ENDA, and clearly is not.
When that was exposed, you first tried to lie and claim that the transit agency was not a function of state government. When that lie was exposed, you lied again and claimed that it was somehow normal to for state agencies to break state laws.
Again, why do you continue to lie to protect your fellow incompetent faggot?
Ndallas: It is clear now that you are the one who is peddling lies. There’s no such policy at the transportation department; my assumption that it was a municipal agency notwithstanding, you maintain that it was the policy of the transportation authority to hire unqualified transgendered applicants as part of a preference program despite denials on the part of the Massachusetts state government. That’s all that is relevant now. I’m not lying about anything; you’re lying about a great deal.
As far as states violating their laws:
Failure of state to comply with state environmental law: http://www.bredl.org/pdf2/090313BREDLReNC0024406_Attachment.pdf
Failure of federal agency to comply with federal statute: http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/06pdf/05-1120.pdf
Failure of state of California to comply with HIV law : http://www.jasmynecannick.com/blog/?p=3285
Toodles, bigot.
Senator Kerry actually retracted his support for that amendment; at the time, he believed it allowed (or perhaps endorsed) civil unions.
Or that’s the lie he told. For some reason, it’s hard to believe that a so-called brilliant lawyer could misconstrue such a short and simple amendment, but then again, none of us ever thought Kerry was intelligent. What he continually made obvious was that he would lie and say whatever he needed to say to win an audience, which was why he lost.
Meanwhile, as for the rest of Kerry’s behavior, that surprises no one that gay-sex liberals like yourself support him; he endorses and supports pedophiles and child pornographers as people of good character.
Ndallas: It is clear now that you are the one who is peddling lies. There’s no such policy at the transportation department; my assumption that it was a municipal agency notwithstanding
Ah yes; he gets everything else wrong, but wants us to believe that he’s telling the truth. Go figure.
Toodles, bigot.
Ah yes, the old cry of the losing gay-sex liberal. Sort of like how Alec and his fellow gay-sex liberals who like to dress children as sex slaves and take them to sex fairs to “show off” call anyone who disagrees “close-minded” and bigots.
When you talk to gay-sex liberals like Alec, you should remember that “bigot” is to them like “racist” is to Jesse Jackson; something they scream whenever anyone tells them “No”, just like they used to scream “I hate you” at their parents. It has nothing to do with actually being a bigot, as we see with their party’s support of Louis Farrakhan; it’s just about you not letting them have sex with whatever they like and applauding.
Wow, Levi and Alec, fascinating how in the comments to which you attach to my post, you don’t address my post, don’t try to defend the President nor to respond to my suggestions.
Instead, you choose to attack conservatives and or us. Interesting the way you guys respond. In a way, your responses help make my point. So, I guess, thanks are in order.
You guys do serve a purpose. Now, what was the term Lenin has for folks like you . . .
Indeed. That’s partially what Dan’s post is about. Remember that? I was educated in Mississippi, but I’m fairly certain Dan didn’t say anything about trying to out-piss NDT.
Now Levi, you’re full of it. We know this. But why dwell on the past when we have the future ahead of us?
Funny how you can go on and on and on with this crap, but you can’t seem to explain Il Douche’s destruction of the country.
Wow, Levi and Alec, fascinating how in the comments to which you attach to my post, you don’t address my post, don’t try to defend the President nor to respond to my suggestions.
Instead, you choose to attack conservatives and or us. Interesting the way you guys respond. In a way, your responses help make my point. So, I guess, thanks are in order.
You guys do serve a purpose. Now, what was the term Lenin has for folks like you . . .
I’ve responded to the self-pitying sentiment behind this post and others exactly like it dozens of times now. “WAAAaaaaaahhhh….*sniff, sniff* Why won’t Obama listen to meeeeeeeeeeee??!?! *sniff*” The really funny part is how well he’s been treating you and covering up for all of George Bush’s crimes. You guys are too stupid to know how you’ve got it. A real liberal would have the entire Bush cabinet in jail already.
You mean a real liberal line Nancy Pelosi?
Levi, I’m glad to see your mom let you back on the internet, but you’ve been quiet on any post questioning San Fran Nan’s endorsement of torture. Now you come out spouting about being a ‘real’ liberal.
The only whining here is you.
Alec runs a close second with the subject changing and dodging. The fact is the Democrats can’t be trusted. Ask Senator Spector (laugh)
Oh, and I forgot, Alec continues to defend John Kerry, now with the novel defense of “I was an idiot when I voted.” Despite the admission of attrocities.
Then again, it’s ok to lie about what you believe, as long as you’re a liberal.
It’s ironic that President Bush reached across the aisle more than President Obama, but is pilloried for it.
But, as Wanda Sykes would say and President Obama would doubtlessly approve, “Obama was too strung out on coccaine to cross the aisle.”
Since some of the liberals and lefitsts have rejoined us after Obamas tough tough week I was wondering if you could help me out with the following…..when the Democrats embarrass themselves we notice how you guys flee for a week or two unable to defend……
Since gille has rejoined the group….
What did you think of Pelosis press conference? Should she, like Obama use teleprompters exclusively when addressing anyone in public? How do you explain away her bumbling? Is she the best and brightest of the House Democrats? Was Panetta right to come out publically to support his agents and totally contradict the Speaker? Did Obama know Pelosi Harman Berman Rockefeller Dodd all knew about waterboarding? Was it helpful for Cheney to ask for more CIA memos be released to prove enhanced interogations had been successful? Will you accept more help like this from the previous administration to help get Obama thru stickey situations? Are you glad Obama took Cheneys suggestion, to not release more Abugrab photos, as it would endanger innocent American troops overseas? Domestically, were you surprised CEO Obama closed all the Chrysler plants? Did you expect him to close so many auto dealerships and lay off all those employees as well? Sorry about the length. But when Obama has such tough weeks, it seems all the Obamaphiles and leftists hide under the bed. And we can’t get straight answers to simple questions. As you know the press doesn’t help out much. Thx.
Covering up or smart enough not to push the “crimes” the liberals have made up over the past 8 years? He knows damn good and well that liberals would be caught up in the show trials themselves. The American people would find out just how full of shit you liberals really are.
In jail or shoveling in the new gulags the liberals were all fond of?
Now, can you defend Il Douche Chumpy Obamalini or not?
He gave Huntsman the job of Chinese Ambassador for the same reason he gave the Commerce Secy position to the Republican Senator, only for the political advantage of Obama. By getting a republican senator out of congress who would be replaced by a democrat senator, and by removing all responsibilities from the republican senator for the census from one of the census’ chief republican overseers in Congress, Obama hoped to subtly and craftily turn the census into an ACORNathon.
With Huntsman, this is not disinterested post partisan hiring of a republican for the nation’s best interests, but is a hiring to co-opt Huntsman from the 2012 republican primaries. This is identical to Obama’s co-opting of Sen. Hillary Clinton to be his Secy of State, to assure that she would not be able to challenge Obama in the 2012 democrat primaries. This appointement by Obama is to assure that Huntsman would not be able to challenge Obama’s second term. Since David Plouffe has remarked on a number of occasions the political danger to Obama from Huntsman as an adversary, the Macchiavellis in the WH feel it’s best to keep their potential political enemies, such as Huntsman closer, and OUT OF THE COUNTRY. It’s a well played move, and we shall see how it impacts Huntsman’s future political career.
Well I’m too busy responding to the crazy comments by your conservative peers that you never bother to respond to. Indeed, I asked you about Governor Huntsman, and you never responded. Someone chimed in and I took the opportunity to discuss it.
Oh really? Your oh so respectful post referred to him as “Barry” (whatever you are, you are not a close friend of President Obama), you criticized him as empty and found his failure to speak out against his pastor “wanting.” Your post hardly reads like you were “moved” by President Obama.
Anyway, I don’t see why I should be tasked with responding to your posts when you never bother to respond to the crazy comments from your right wing peers, which usually undermine any good faith arguments you put forward. With people like NorthDallasThirty running around in charge of the Republican Party, you get the respect you deserve.
eaglewingz08,
Actually, Senator Gregg was going to be replaced by a Republican. And he admits he was to blame for the whole affair:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0209/18794.html
We can’t just rewrite recent history to serve far right talking points. 🙂
“In his statement announcing his withdrawal, Gregg cited his problems with the economic stimulus bill, as well as partisan disagreements over how to run the census, as reasons for pulling his nomination. He was quick to point out that there was nothing in the vetting process that made him yank his own nomination.
Ultimately, Gregg said, he and Obama “are functioning from a different set of views on many critical items of policy.””
We can’t rewrite history to fit your far left talking ponts.
There really isn’t much wiggle room. And eaglewingz08 was simply incorrect; he was to be replaced with a Republican.
There’s no “far left” talking point involved; only Senator Gregg’s own words. And reality, which has a well known liberal bias.
Uh huh, and MBTA is a municipal organization — another “fact” that Alec lied about, as he seems to have a problem with doing.
The fact that Obama lies constantly is known to everyone. Senator Gregg made the correct decision not to trust Obama, who had already lied when he said there would be no lobbyists in the Obama administration, who had already lied when he said there would be no tax cheats in the Obama administration, and so forth.
I assumed it was. I was incorrect. Regardless, you’ve been misrepresenting their policies and haven’t provided any evidence they have a special promotion or hiring policy for the transgendered. Caught in your lie, you dig deeper. In this you apparently take after your dearly departed Decider, who assumed, incorrectly, that if one told a lie often enough and loudly enough it would, via magic, transorm itself into the truth.
The fact that Obama lies constantly is known to everyone.
Heh. How’s that bubble holding up? It is going to be a long eight years, my friend.
Regardless, you’ve been misrepresenting their policies and haven’t provided any evidence they have a special promotion or hiring policy for the transgendered.
Just the bragging of those who it benefited.
What a surprise; a leftist-dominated state agency lying about what it does. Sort of like how Obama lied when he claimed that he didn’t support illegal immigrants getting benefits, only for us to find out that his aunt was getting cheap housing, free healthcare, a no-show government job, and welfare checks so fat that she was able to make hundreds of dollars in illegal contributions to the Obama campaign — all at the expense of honest hardworking taxpayers.